Hedge-trimmer



(No Model.)

J. P. HIL'EJVIAN.

Patent-ed Jan. 4, 1887A.

@vwl/mow NV PETERS. Phelo-hihogmpher. Wuhnglan. D C.

"Unirse STATES JOHN P. HILEMAN, OF ARROWSMITH, ILLINOIS.

HEnGE-TRlMn/IER.

SPECIFICATION forming part `of Letters Patent No. 355,396, dated January 4, 1887.

Application filed March 20, 11886.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J oHN P. HILEMAN,of Arrowsmith, McLean county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Hedge-Trimming Machines; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,'and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in hedge-trimming machines; and it has for its objects to provide certain improved means whereby the cutting mechanism is operated and controlled, as more fully hercinafterset forth. These objects are attained bythe means illustrated in the accompanying drawings7 in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of the improved invention, and Fig. 2 represents' a top plan View thereof.

In said drawings, the letter A indicates the main frame, constructed preferably of wood, and having side uprights, B, which are con-. nected and braced by a cross-beam, C.

D indicates a master-wheel, which is fastened to the shaft E. On said shaft is mounted a bevel gear-wheel, F. The wheel F gears with a pinion, G,which transmits its motion to the bevel-wheel H, and thence through the pinion I to the shaft' K. On this shaft is secured a ruiter-wheel, L, which gears with a miter-wheel, L. A crank -wheel, M, is secured to the shaft K.

N is a shaft journaled on the supplemental frame, and having at one end the miter-wheel L, and provided on its other end with crank- Wheel N.

The letter I? indicates a horizontal cutterbar, which operates to cut the top of the hedge and R, a vertical cutter-bar to cut the side of the hedge, the said cutter-bars being actuated, respectively,by the pitmen S and T. The pitman S is actuated by the crank-wheel M, and the pitman T by the crank-wheel N.

To render the apparatus adjustable to different heights, I employ a frame-Work which is vertically adjustable on the standards B. The cutter bars and their immediately-attached operating mechanism are also raised and lowered with the adjustable frame.

U U indicate two side parallel bars, notched at U', so as to slide on the standards B. There are three transverse bars secured to the bars U. These bars are lettered Q Q Q". There is also a fourth bar, Q, on the top part ofthe movable frame, which lies parallel with the'side bars, U. There is aseres of retaining-plates, R', for holding the shafts K N iu position. These plates are secured to the topsof the horizontal bars.

Z is a vertical lrotary shaft provided with a collar, Z', which supports` it in an opening in a cross-bar, Zi". Said cross-bar has its ends secured to the standards B. The cross-bar Q? is provided with an opening for supporting the shaft Z and holding the same and its Wheel H in line. .Said shaft is provided on its lower end with a bevel gear-wheel, X, which meshes with the main shaft-wheel F.

V V are two vertical rack-bars, secured at their upper ends to the side bars, U U, ofthe movable frame. The notches V on these bars V are engaged by cog-Wheels V2 on a shaft, V3. The ends of thisshaft are journaled to the side frame-bars, A.

V* are guide-pieces on the inner sides of the frame-piecesA, for holdingl the rack-bars V in line.

Wis a rod for elevating the adj ustable frame.' This rod is held in position on its lower end by means of an arm, Y,which extends inward from one of the frame-pieces. This arm is provided with Van opening for the reception of the rod, said rod being provided with a collar, V, to prevent it from sliding down through the opening in the arm-piece Y. The end of the rod is provided with a worm, W3, which meshes with a worm-wheel, W, on the shaft V3. The rod extends rear-ward and upward on about an angle of forty-five degrees, and it is provided on its outer end with a crank, W2, near the drivers seat Y', whereby said crank is accessible to the driver when seated. The

rear end of the rodWmaybesuitablyvinounted.

and supported by any convenient form of arm or bracket. f

As there is often a furrow along the side of hedges, and it being desirable to maintain a uniform height of the top cutter-bar, P, the following mechanism is devised to meet -this emergency: The small wheel A is journaled -in a vertical piece, A. To said piece is secured a right-angled projection, Af.'

ICO

A are vertical flanged guides secured to the side of standards B. These guides permit of a vertical adjustment of the piece A2 therein.

B3 is a lever, secured at its lower end to the right-angled piece A4. Said lever is fulerumed to a short arm, B2.

B is a notched standardvon the rear cross framepiece. Said standard is provided with a lever-retaining framepiece, B5.

B' is a spring on the lever for holding the same in any one of the notches.

The inner end of the cutter-bar P is hinged to one end of the cross-piece Q. A chain, G, is secured at one end to said bar. A pin, C?, is fixed in the top of the cross-piece Q. The chain is adapted to engage said pin by any one of its links, whereby the angleof inclination of the cutter-bar may be adjusted.

The operation of the device is as follows: By rotating the rod W the worm W3 thereon, through the medium of the worm-wheel W, rotates the shaft V3. The cogs V2 on said shaft elevate or lower the rack-bars V. Vhen said rack-hars are moved vertically, the top horizontal bars, U, Q, Q', Q2, and Q3, and the mechanism mounted thereon, are also moved. The cutter bars are also `moved with said bars and mechanism. The shaft Z is longitudinally grooved on its upper side. `Said shaft is provided with a bevel gear-wheel, H. Said shaft and wheel are united by key or spline. The wheel is movable on the shaft. When the adjustable frame is raised or lowered, the wheel H is moved on its shaft, so as to conform to the changed position. The object of the adjustable frame is to raise and lower the cutter-bars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination, with the main frame having fixed vertical standards thereon, of a supplementary frame provided with vertical and horizontal cutter-bars, said frame being` vertically adjustable on said standards,where by the cutter-bars may be raised and lowered, substantially as specified. l

2. The combination,with the main frame having fixed standards thereon, of averticallyadl the bevel gear-wheels F X, H I, and L L', and

of the shafts to which said wheels are respectively secured, of the crank-wheels M and N and their pitmen S T, and of the vertical and horizontal cutter-bars, all arranged and operated substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The main shaft E, bevel gear-wheels FX,

'H I, and L L', the shafts to which said wheels are respectively secured, the crank-wheels M and N', and pitmen S T,the gear-wheel H being vertically movable on its shaft, in combination with a vertically-adjustable frame, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. The main shaft E, bevel gear-wheels F X. H I, and L L', and the shafts to which said wheels are respectively secured, the gear-wheel H being vertically movable on its shaft, and the vertically-adjustable frame provided with rack-bars V, in combination with the shaftV, provided with cogs and a worm-wheel, as specified, and the crank-rod W',provided with the'worrn for engaging the worin-wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of January, 1886.`

JOHN I. HILEMAN.

Witnesses:

Tnos. SLIDE, M. S. SLADE. 

